Adjustable anchor

ABSTRACT

An adjustable anchor ensemble is disclosed, including a main anchor member or frame which may receive one of several ground engaging anchor fittings according to anchoring requirements in different boating situations. Illustratively, the anchor frame may be fitted with fluke-type ground engaging members. Each kind of ground engaging member may be variously positioned on the anchor frame to achieve the most favorable anchoring conditions or to drag the anchor along the bottom. The anchor may be folded into collapsed condition for ease of stowage in a boat.

United States Patent [191 Semolic 1 Jan. 23, 1973 1 ADJUSTABLE ANCHOR Walter J. Semolic, 406 .Bee Street, Meriden, Conn. 06451 221 Filed: May 18,1970

2] App1.No.: 37,966

[76] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl ..ll4/207 [51] Int. Cl. ..B36b 21/34 [58] Field 0fSearch...114/206 R, 206 A, 207, 208 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,629,357 2/1953 Jones ..114/208 A 2,990,799 7/1961 Morgan et 31.... ..114/208 R 3,071,096 1/1963 Meno 1 ..1 14/208 R 2,499,138 2/1950 Golding ..114/206 R Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Blix Assistant Examiner-Galen L. Barefoot Att0rneyDouglas W. Wyatt [57] ABSTRACT An adjustable anchor ensemble is disclosed, including a main anchor member or frame which may receive one of several ground engaging anchor fittings according to anchoring requirements in different boating situations. lllustratively, the anchor frame may be fitted with fluke-type ground engaging members. Each kind of ground engaging member may be variously positioned on the anchor frame to achieve the most favorable anchoring conditions or to drag the anchor along the bottom. The anchor may be folded into collapsed condition for ease of stowage in a boat.

1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN23I973 3.712.259

SHEEI 1 BF 2 INVENTOR. #14176? 55910116 MARK/4 lira 5e; 1m: 72'

AITMNEFF PATENTEDJAHZB 1975 SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR. WAL TEA SEMOl/C ,4 rrdkA/Efs ADJUSTABLE ANCHOR SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention provides an adjustable anchor ensemble which in heavier vessels eliminates the need for carrying more than one anchor. In lighter boats the anchor provides greater versatility in ground tackle while minimizing the added space and expense need for such more versatile tackle. The present invention is particularly advantageous in providing small boats with. an adjustable anchor which the boatman mayreadily and easily convert according to changer in anchoring conditions. The adjustable anchor may be rigged for brief stops in light weather or it may be rigged for greater holding power in heavier weather or for overnight anchoring.

The adjustable anchor ensemble according to the present invention comprises a main anchor frame.

together with several sets of ground engaging members for fitting onto the main anchor frame so to achieve the best coincidence of anchoring conditions and anchoring equipment in a most convenient manner. In this way the adjustable anchor minimizes stowage space requirements by eliminating the need for a plurality of anchors.

The adjustable anchor comprises an anchor frame having a shank to' which the anchor line is connected in a conventional manner. The shank is fitted at its lower end with a pair of transversely extending arms which receive the ground engaging members. The a'nchor frame (minus the ground engaging members) comprises the permanent anchor installation which may be used in a variety of ways depending on anchoring conditions. That is to say, the anchor frame together with the anchor line are permanently rigged and need not be changed or re-rigged as different anchoring conditions are encountered.

In one case the ground engaging members comprise a pair of semi-circular dished members which when used together define a mushroom-type anchor. The semi-circular ground engaging members may be placed in various positions on the anchor frame, i.e., together or spaced apart as desired according to bottom conditions. If desired the mushroom-type ground engaging members may be inverted (i.e., downwardly concave) to achieve different anchoring conditions .as for example, dragging the anchor along the bottom for controlled drifting of the boat.

The adjustable anchor is provided with an additional set of ground engaging members which are generally pointed flukes and which like the mushroom membersmay'be fitted in various ways'to obtain the bestanchoring equipment for a different anchoring requirement. The fluke type ground engaging members are-suitable for rocky and weed cloggedbottoms.

DESCRIPTION OF THE-DRAWING present invention particularly illustrating-the adjustable anchor having semi-circular dish-shaped ground engaging members for defining a mushroom-type anchor. and is illustrated in an advantageous storage'position;

FIG. 2 isperspective view of the anchor illustrated in FIG. I where the shank has been reset with respect to the ground engaging members and thereby the anchor is ready to be used in a position suitable for holding in soft wind;

FIG. 3 is a section view on an enlarged scale taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectionviewtaken along line 4-4 of FIG.

a FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the ground engaging members in reverse position (i.e., downwardly concave) from the anchor illustrated in. FIG. 1 which reverse position allows dragging for drift fishing;

FIG. 6 is-a topplan view showing a further modificatiori of the anchor illustrated in FIGS. l-S showing the ground engaging members in spaced relationship to provide a modified mushroom-type anchor useful for holding in adverse condition such as hard sand, thick weeds and rocks;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment of the adjustable anchor fitted with a different set of ground engaging members which may be arranged in various positions as shown in broken lines for various type of light anchorage conditions.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1 through FIG. 5, the adjustable anchor 10 according to the present invention includes a main anchor 10 according to the present invention includes a mainanchor frame 12 comprising a shank member 14 having a ring 16 through an opening 17 at its upper end and a pair of arms 18, 20 extending laterally from each side of the shank at its bottom end. An anchor line or chain (not illustrated) is attached at one end to the anchor ring 16 and at its other end to a suitable deck fitting (not illustrated) which sustains the holding force of the anchor line. The anchor frame 12 may be fabricated from metallic members or other materials of suitable construction as for example cast or dropforged aluminum or other non-corrosive metal. The laterally extending arms 18, 2!) are of suitable polygonal cross-section for receiving a pair of ground engaging members 22,. 2.4. Preferably the arms are square in cross-section but if desired may be triangular or hexagonal. to provide greater variation in available configurations of the adjustable anchor.

As shown in FIGS. the adjustable anchor, includes a pair of ground engaging members in the form of a pair of semi-. c ircular dish-shaped members which when fitted onto theanchoras shown in ;F IG 2 will provide a mushroom-type anchor. As shown FIGS. Band 4each of .the ground engaging member s is providedmith-mounting means-such asa rib 2 6 which extends in a-radial .direction from center .to circumference. The radially extending.ribs are provided vith anopening :28-formounting the ground engagingmembersontothe anchor arms.= 18,;20. Thegroiindengaging members may befabricated from .suitablernaterials :typic-allymaybe an.integral.c ast.unit.or dtqPfQ ed. The opening ;28-is machinedto suitable tolerancefor cooperation vwith armslS and 20.

As best shown in .FIG. 3 each ground engaging member includes aplurality .of apertures 3 0 cooperate Mith-suitabIemQQBs such ,as ,.a threaded pin 32 .for retaining the ground engagi ng m embers ,in

sdesired-position on the anchorframenEach of .the

anchor arms 18 and 20 have a suitable threaded opening 33 to receive the pin 32.

As shown in FIG. 6, the semi-circular ground engaging members may be positioned at the extreme portion of each of the arms 18, 20 if desired for a particular bottom condition. As shown in FIG. the semi-circular dished ground engaging members 22, 24 may be inverted so as to be downwardly concave as may be desired for particular bottom conditions or for dragging the anchor to control drifting of the boat when drift fishing.

When the adjustable anchor is in storage, the anchor frame and the ground engaging members are disposed as shown in FIG. 1. That is to say the shank will lie over the ground engaging members in a collapsed highly advantageous flat condition for easy and convenient stowage.

To prepare for use the anchor is arranged as shown in FIG. 2. This arrangement is accomplished by removing each of the ground engaging members illustrated in FIG. 1 and by resetting the shank into an upright position and then refitting the ground engaging members onto the shank arms. In other words the shank and the ground engaging members are disassembled, displaced 90 relative to each other, and then reassembled. It will be observed of course that the rectangular cross-section of the receiving slot 28 in the ground engaging members are selected to provide the simple disassembly and reassembly from the folded flat to the upright ready-to-use condition. If other polygonal forms (e.g., hexagonal) are used for the arms 18, then the ground engaging members may be fitted in an intermediate position to provide an anchor with desired holding power.

Alternate ground engaging members may be used as shown in FIG. 7. This adjustable anchor comprises the same anchor frame 12 described in connection with the adjustable anchor of FIGS. 1-6. This anchor therefore is provided with alternate ground engaging members which generally comprise a pair of curved flukes 40, 42 which are generally pointed at their opposite ends. Each of these flukes are fitted at one end of mounting means 44, 46 which preferably are elongated hollow shafts of suitable internal cross-section. The mounting means 44, 46 fit over the arms of 18, 20 of the anchor frame. These ground engaging members are held in position by threaded pins 35. The flukes may be positioned in various ways with respect to the shank 14 of the anchor. That is to say, the flukes may be positioned close to the shank or spaced apart from the shank. The flukes may also be aligned in a condition generally parallel to the shank for stowage or may be aligned perpendicular to the shank for use.

In use the anchor illustrated in FIG. 7 is transposed from the stowed condition to the usable condition by removing the ground engaging members from the shank arms and by rotating the ground engaging members through approximately and reassembling the fluke members on the anchor frame. That is to say, the flukes are transposed from the broken line position to the solid line position illustrated in FIG. 6.

Accordingly the present invention provides an adjustable anchor which makes available a versatile anchor with a minimum of interchangeable anchor parts. The ad'ustable anchor is economical to construct and use. T e anchor IS arranged for convenient stowage and usage. The anchor includes provision for a permanent installation which may be varied quickly and conveniently according to different anchoring conditions as may be encountered. The anchor is prepared for use and may be converted from one type anchor to another, e.g., from a mushroom-type anchor to a fluketype anchor quickly and conveniently,.just prior to use.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable anchor having anielongated shank member having an upper end and lower end, means fitted at the upper end for connection to an anchor line; a laterally extending pair of shank arms rigidly attached at the lower end of the shank; and a pair of removable ground engaging members mounted on said arms, said ground engaging members being adapted to be mounted in various positions on said arms so that the ground engaging members may be selectively fitted for using the anchor or for stowing the anchor and wherein the ground engaging members comprise a pair of semicircular dish-shaped ground engaging members and wherein the shank arms are polygonal in cross-section and further wherein the ground engaging members have corresponding polygonal openings for mounting of the ground engaging members on shank arms.

ii i I I 

1. An adjustable anchor having an elongated shank member having an upper end and lower end, means fitted at the upper end for connection to an anchor line; a laterally extending pair of shank arms rigidly attached at the lower end of the shank; and a pair of removable ground engaging members mounted on said arms, said ground engaging members being adapted to be mounted in various positions on said arms so that the ground engaging members may be selectively fitted for using the anchor or for stowing the anchor and wherein the ground engaging members comprise a pair of semicircular dish-shaped ground engaging members and wherein the shank arms are polygonal in cross-section and further wherein the ground engaging members have corresponding polygonal openings for mounting of the ground engaging members on shank arms. 